NESCL young guns in goal-scoring form
SOCCER: Two NECSL Emerging Talent team underlined their talent when they recorded two impressive victories in recent days
NECSL3
Drogheda1
After victory for both the 2010 and 2011 teams on 2-0 scorelines against Dundalk opposition in earlier matches the NECSL 2009 squad made it a hat-trick of wins in the SFAI Interleague at the MDL.
They didn’t make the brightest of starts however, conceding a goal after just 20 seconds. It was a scintillating move from the kick-off which tore through the home side’s rearguard.
However the NECSL were unfazed by that poor beginning and were back on level terms within two minutes. Harry McGuirk won possession about 25 metres out and hit an unstoppable effort to the top corner of the net.
Midway through the half the hosts took control of proceedings with an equally impressive goal, this time James O’Neill jinking his way through following nice approach work from the tireless Matthew Martin. It got even better for the NECSL after that as Alex Keane stole in following a James O’Neill corner to make it 3-1.
Drogheda brought huge physicality and intensity to the game in the second half but there was no way back for them and indeed but for some very good goalkeeping the hosts might have added a few more to their tally.
Next up for the 2009s is an away trip up to Dundalk which promises to be a tough assignment.
NECSL squad - Matthew Martin, Henry McCormack, Dillon Glynn, Ben O Toole, Patrick Kealy, Darragh McGuigan, James O Neill, Blake Daly, Bartosz Kolasinski, Reece Beasley, Alex Keane, Harry McGuirk, Tomasz Rybak, Kayden Hill, Conn Brennan, Cormac Fitzsimons, Luke Byrne, Conor McTigue.
NECSL 2
Dundalk 0
The NECSL u-13s kicked off this year's SFAI Interleague group stage games with a fantastic home win against local rivals Dundalk. The hosts made a blistering start and opened the scoring in under a minute when Luke Lynagh was fouled in the box for a penalty. Craig Foley’s spot kicked was blocked but he followed up to net the rebound.
Dundalk proved dangerous on the counter attack and on three different occasions keeper Shane Boner was forced to come to his side’s rescue and keep the lead intact. A few adjustments at half-time seem to work well for the home team who dominated the exchanges in the second half.
The crucial second goal eventually arrived when Lynagh finished off a great move after being assisted by the effervescent Zach Cranley. The home side had the ball in the net a third time, but Conor Farrelly’s effort was ruled out for offside. Next up is a tough test away to the North Dublin Schoolboys League (NDSL) in three weeks' time.
NECSL squad - Cian Canny, Zach Cranley, Cillian Boyle, Jonah Hassett, Joe Kearney, Ben Cullen, Luke Lynagh, Sean Clarke, Sean Hegarty, Jamie Murtagh, Finn McCormack, Craig Foley, Conor Farrelly, Shane Bonar, Luke Fitzsimons, Aaron McQuaid, George Golds, Aaron Mc Mahon.